HC Deb 08 July 1963 vol 680 cc106-7W
53. Mr. Brockway

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the differences which have arisen between the British and Soviet Foreign Ministers as co-chairmen of the Geneva Agreement on Laos.

Mr. Heath

My noble Friend the Foreign Secretary maintains continuous contact through Her Majesty's Embassy at Moscow with Mr. Gromyko and has made many attempts to enlist Soviet support in defence of the Geneva Settlement. On 1st July, we took the initiative for the first time in publishing certain documents, copies of which were placed in the Vote Office. We did this because it was obvious that no agreement was likely with the Russians on the reports from the International Control Commission under discussion, and because we felt obliged under the Geneva Protocol to circulate to members of the Conference the valuable and important information which they contained.

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